Dominican Republic Capture Points to Growing Italy Mafia Influence

Authorities in the Dominican Republic have arrested a key operative from Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta mafia who was allegedly developing a cocaine trafficking route, underscoring the group’s growing presence in this region.

Nicola Pignatelli was arrested on April 27 in the town of Juan Dolio, about 30 kilometers east of capital Santo Domingo. His capture was the result of a one-month intelligence operation coordinated by international police body Interpol in conjunction with Dominican and Italian police, reported Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Pignatelli appeared on Italy’s 100 most dangerous fugitives list and had previously been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for his involvement in criminal operations conducted by the Mazzaferro Ursino Aquino, a branch of the ‘Ndrangheta. During the operation, authorities learned that Pignatelli maintained contact with Roberto Pannunzi, a powerful cocaine broker arrested in Colombia in 2013.

The Italian police had been searching for Pignatelli since 2011. He is currently being held in Santo Domingo awaiting deportation to his homeland.

The ‘Ndrangheta’s expansion in Latin America shows no signs of slowing down, and the organization’s presence in the Dominican Republic likely represents a strategic effort to continue developing a global network reported to include 60,000 operatives across 30 countries.

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